Absence of Military History in College Curriculum

Hi folks! I'm taking a look at some college course catalogs and I noticed that military history seems to be conspicuously absent. Is there a specific reason why military history isn't typically included in college syllabi?

You're right in noting that military history can sometimes appear underrepresented in a traditional college syllabus. This can be for several reasons:

First, history as an academic field is vast, and no institution can cover every possible topic in-depth. Universities may decide to prioritize certain areas of history over others based on their resources, the expertise and interests of their faculty, and what they believe will best serve their students. Therefore, courses in social, political, or economic history may be offered more frequently than military history.

Second, military history as a field has traditionally been taught at military academies or institutions with a primary focus on military science. At these institutions, military history is not just considered a matter of historical interest, but also a fundamental part of a future officer's education.

Third, the ways universities teach history have changed over time. There's been a shift in emphasis from a more traditional "top-down" history focusing on warfare and politics to a "bottom-up" approach that often examines society, culture, economics, and everyday life. This is also influenced by larger trends in the field of history, trends which prioritize previously marginal voices and stories.

However, this doesn't mean that military history is ignored. Often, aspects of military history are incorporated within broader history courses. For example, a class on American history may devote significant time to discussing the Revolutionary War, the Civil War or the World Wars, from a military perspective. Military history can also appear in specialized courses on topics like the Cold War, the Vietnam War, or the history of technology.

Finally, if a student has a specific interest in military history, they often have the option to explore that topic independently through directed readings, independent studies, or honors thesis projects with the guidance of a faculty advisor. But there's no denying that colleges could do more to include military history in their offerings.

So in conclusion, the absence of military history in college syllabi can be attributed to a variety of factors like academic focus, resource allocation, pedagogical approaches, and changing historical trends.